Arkansas State Police, Arkansas
End of Watch: Monday, October 15, 1984
Age: 39
Tour of Duty: 12 years
Badge Number: 73
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: October 15, 1984
Weapon Used: Shotgun; 12 gauge
Suspect Info: Executed
Corporal Robert Klein was shot and killed by an escaped convict at 11:45 pm.
Corporal Klein and another trooper were investigating a truck that had been reported stolen 30 minutes earlier. The convicts had broken into a home, tied up the elderly occupants, stolen several items, including guns, and broken into a neighboring house. As Corporal Klein was inspecting the truck, a shot was fired, and Corporal Klein fell to the ground. The other trooper fired in the direction of the blast. The two escaped convicts hid in a greenhouse and attic of a home until they surrendered around 5 am.
The killer was convicted of Corporal Klein's murder and sentenced to death; he was executed on May 7, 1992. The other convict was sentenced to 86 years.
Corporal Klein had served with the Arkansas State Police for 12 years. He is survived by his wife, three sons, and a brother.